BREAKING NEWS: Gay Marriage Bill Passes Maine Senate. After last week’s huge turnout of three thousand people at a public hearing, and after the Maine Legislature Judiciary Committee’s passage of a gay marriage bill, it was not expected that the full Senate would vote on the legislation until next week. But in a surprise and expedited move, Maine’s Senate has passed a gay marriage bill by a 20 – 15 margin.The senate also rejected an amendment to the bill that would require a referendum on same-sex marriage to be placed on the ballot at the November elections.
The House still needs to vote on the bill, and Governor John Baldacci, although publicly opposed to same-sex marriage, has been said to be keeping an open mind.